Nineteenth Century Leather Covered Traveling Inkwell with Bird

This wonderful little traveling inkwell has a lot going for it. It is made of metal and covered with leather. The top was embossed with a flying bird holding a letter in its beak. Its spring loaded mechanism opens when the button in front is pressed. And best of all, inside the lid is a fading piece of paper that says (as well as we can read it): From E. Estey Fisher to Hattie M. Pease of Edgarton Mass. USA, Paris France, Sept. 1880.

The inner lid is decorated with a double headed eagle and what appear to be the letters: KKA PRIV. This lid is held closed by a clasp. When opened, the spring-loaded leather stopper is visible. The ink bottle is blown and cut on the top.

SIZE: This inkwell is about 1 1/8 inches high and has a diameter of about 2 inches.

CONDITION: Overall the condition is very good. One of the bird’s wings has started to lift away from the leather lid, and the leather above the hinge is also lifting from the metal inkwell. There is some rubbing of the leather surface around the button in front and a bit of fraying along the top of the base. There is no leather missing. The spring mechanism is strong and works well, as does the inner clasp. The bottle has ink stains but no cracks or chips. The bottom shows evidence of a sticker from long ago.

This is a lovely little inkwell, made extra special by the dated note inside.